baskethilts for rattan sticks

Looks like I will be offering a "Filipino Swordsmanship" class aimed at youth at the local rec center in September. And while banged knuckles are pretty much standard for learning FMA, I want to minimize them in my youth class (12-17).

Good idea Chilipepper, i find home made is the way to go when you teach FMA. I've recently started making my own training blades from PVC pipe. The best part about my blades is i can make any shape to match what i carry.

For the OP, you can check out a "play it again sports" store if they're in your area and get some cheap lacrosse or hockey gloves. I also remember seeing a hand guard that looks like a beer coozy, you slip it on the stick and stick your hand through a hole in the side. There's a thread here on BS about FMA hand protection and there were a lot of good suggestions.

For the OP, you can check out a "play it again sports" store if they're in your area and get some cheap lacrosse or hockey gloves. I also remember seeing a hand guard that looks like a beer coozy, you slip it on the stick and stick your hand through a hole in the side. There's a thread here on BS about FMA hand protection and there were a lot of good suggestions.

What do you plan on showing the kids? What kind of drills?

I have been teaching group classes for 5 years now so I have developed a good supply of class gear (lacrosse gloves and fencing masks) but only in adult sizes, so my next expenditure is going to be masks for the kids. I think I had seen that "beer cozy" suggestion before, and was hoping someone could show me where to look for it. Though I will say that I think that installing a D-guard will help people think "sword" and rather than "stick."

My plan is to expose the kids to most of the PTK long blade curriculum with an initial focus on the largo material. Then as we build expertise how to crash to closer quarters.

My adult curriculum has moved away from utilizing any of the sumbrada style box drills, but I am planning on using those for the youth class as a starting point. We will, build the pieces of the sumbrada drill first, then do the drill, later we will deconstruct it to a true free flow.

My plan is for regular sparring with an eventual goal of the kids being able to spar from long distance to a standing grapple position, but with the ok to use the sword at close quarters if it is available. Eventually the weapon categories will include double sword and espada y daga. Emphasis will be on stick as blade.